Blank cartridge for guns



Jan. 30, 1968 w. GAHLE 3,366,057

BLANK CARTRIDGE FOR GUNS Filed May 5, 1966 tts ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A blank cartridge having a case of synthetic material which disintegrates upon firing and with a container with a powder charge therein and a tamping plug with a spacer between the plug and the powder charge.

This invention relates to blank cartridges for guns, in particular guns of large calibre.

In the case of blank cartridges what is required is a loud noise similar to the sound of a shot whilst using a small powder charge; however, most important of all, it must be possible to load the gun quickly and reliably, and there must be no deposit in the barrel after firing.

In accordance with the present invention a blank cartridge satisfying these requirements is produced by placing a powder charge contained in the known way and a tamping plug at least corresponding in diameter to the calibre of the cartridge at a distance from one another in a hollow cylindrical case made of synthetic material with a low inflammability which is destroyed during firing, for example foamed polystyrol, and fixing them to the wall of the cylinder.

A blank cartridge embodying the invention can be loaded in a simple manner like a normal cartridge case. The hot powder gases occurring on firing melt the hollow case and this disintegrates practically without residue. Small particles left behind in a fiocculent state are expelled by the tamping plug which itself disintegrates on leaving the barrel.

The blank cartridge is also of advantage in training troops as the loading procedure is the same as in battle. It is also an advantage that the blank ammunition can be accommodated in holders of Weapons or battle equipment without these having to be altered.

To maintain a space always of the same magnitude for expansion of the powder charge, it is preferred to arrange a spacer made of the same material as the hollow cylinder between the powder charge and the tamping plug. The spacer may be in the form of a cross having two arms at right angles.

By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a longitudinal section of the embodiment.

3,366,057 Patented Jan. 30, 1968 Reference numeral 1 denotes a hollow cylindrical case made of foamed polystyrol. The physical and chemical properties of this material make it particularly suitable for the purpose for which it is to be used. The material is extraordinarily light, has a low infiammability, melts and disintegrates almost without residue on firing so that there are no undesirable side effects when the powder charge ignites. At one end of the casethe front end there is a tamping plug 2 which, as described in British patent specification No. 1,172,578, consists of an unmoulded, paste-like mixture of a filler, a synthetic resin and a hardening binding agent, this mixture being made into a plug which then hardens and adheres to the walls of the cylinder. The diameter of the tamping plug 2 is at least equal to the barrel calibre, and is preferably slightly larger to improve the noise effect and the disintegration of the tamping plug. At the other end of the hollow case there is a propellent charge 4 in a cartridge pouch 3 which is stuck to the walls of the cylinder, for example with waterglass. 5 denotes a firing charge which is fixed to the cartridge pouch.

To maintain a space for the propellent charge to burn a spacer 6 made of the same material as the case is inserted between the tamping plug 2 and the propellent charge 4. The spacer 6 consists of two arms or plates 6a and 6b placed at right angles to one another to form a cross which, like the hollow case 1, disintegrates on firing. Each arm or plate 6a and 6b has a slot therein in the center to interfit in each other.

I claim:

1. A blank cartridge comprising in combination, a cartridge case of synthetic material of low inflammability which disintegrates when the cartridge is fired, a container within the case, a powder charge in said container, a tamping plug inside the case and spaced from the said container, the diameter of the tamping plug being at least equal to the calibre of the said blank cartridge and both container and tamping plug being fixed to the wall of the cartridge case and a spacer between said container and said tamping plug.

2. A blank cartridge as claimed in claim 1 in which said spacer comprises two plates interconnected at right angles to one another.

3. A blank cartridge according to claim 1 in which the spacer consists of two plates each with a part-central slot therein so that the slot of one plate receives a portion of the other plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,103,883 9/1963 Ormanns 10239 3,257,948 6/1966 Axelrod et al 102-43 3,276,378 10/1966 Gable 102-97 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. ROBERT F. STAHL, Examiner. 

